The Washington critic., 1887-02-11
TOPICS OF THE DAY.


Says Washington correspondent Of
the Lowell Courier: Work on the Capt.
tol terraces is being pushed ahead as
rapidly as the situation will permit,
and already the wisdom of the change
Is apparent, the former squatty look of
the noblest building on earth no longer
offending taste for the eternal fitness
of things. The old Frenchman who,
under Washington, laid out the city as
we sec It, bulded better than he knew,
for while, with the fresh experiences of
the French Revolution in his mind, he
arranged the broad avenues in
such way as to allow of an cnflading
fire upon each public building,
the result has been that, of all
cities in the world, Washington is the
only one wherein the noble monuments
of architecture and patriotism can be
properly viewed from various dlrec
lions and from suitable distances. The
view from the library porch of the
Capitol, at this season of the year, Is
certainly the finest of its kind on the
continent. The beautiful and symmet-
rlcal shaft of the Washington monu.
ment cutting the sky line over the
lovely heights of Arlington is surely q
picture for an artist
a"~
Captain Frazier of Philadelphia, who
has just returned from a two.years'
residence in Europe, gives to the Press
the following account of an interview
he had with General Won Moltke at
Berlin Il called on him at his palace,
just outside the gates at the end of the
famous road called Inter den Linden.
1t is modest looking house enough,
Notwithstanding its high sounding
name, and is not nearly so handsome as
Mr.. Childs' or Mr.. Scott's. After had
sent up my card, the servant coming
back inquired particularly why l
wished TO see General Won Moltke.
Because, said l, have been soldier,
and now that General Grant is dead l
consider General Won Moltko the
greatest military man living. The SER
want retired and In moment returned.
In that case, said he, his Excelency
will be glad to see you | followed
the servant up stairs and into draw
ing-room, As | stepped across the
threshold almost stumbled against the
great General who was standing by
the door holding my card. took
seat by the window, and for three.
quarters of an hour we had chat
about variety of things. The General
is 81, but wonderfully well preserved
for man who has taken part in so
Il, ;,
shaven and is mass of wrinkles. II
is one that would strike you anywhere
full of power and self. command. He
was simply dressed His coat was
single. breasted; one with simply the
twisted shoulder straps. Round his
neck was the Order of the Iron Cross.
We spoke in English altogether, and
though he enunciated with the slow
ness of delberation he never wanted
for words. He spoke a good deal of
our war, though l considered 1t re.
markable that he mentioned no names
of generals but those of Grant and
Hancock. He referred particularly to
the battle of Gettysburg and spoke of
1t as a great strategic contest. / asked
him what his opinion was of General
Grant. General Grants loss,' he re.
Piled was n great loss. He was
great General. He was one of the
gre !test that has ever lived
~
E3I. NJ. S. in the Phila lelphia, Sunday
Dig a'ch draws somewhat doleful
picture Of the quarters on E street, In
this city, occupied by an important
branch of the Government. The writer
FTbarn pn1turn1 nd
graceful women In the Money Order
Division of the Sixth Auditors office,
which is one of the largest in that
branch of the service, Here women
wi have held brilliant social positions
are given the hardest and most trying
work In the service. They are com
PEELED to live and laborin II large room,
packed like sheep In PEN or sardines
as Marini's Hall. 1t Is said by those
who ought to know that the floor of this
big barn has never been scrubbed. |.
TIE strip of mating In the passagewAy
Is packed with dirt, the accumulation
of many years, That old mating has
done good service The clouds of dust
from The old mating recalls simeon
in the great Sahara. AS these brave
women are neither camels nor ARABS" ."
but poorly paid toilers of the National
Treasury, they are entitled to a clean
place 10 work In, and that is all they
ask, and they have a right to be heard.
Mr.. Doughcrty did ask, as d Christmas
Gift to those women under his employ
that these Augean stables should be
cleansod. This would be q practical
reform that the grateful clerks would
rejoice ut.
#s*
Speaking of the new Senator-elect
from Tennessee, leading politician of
that State gives the following inlorma-
tion to Carpenter of the Cleveland
LCdder; "EX Governor Bate is a Ten
nesseoan by birth, He went to the
Mexican war as boy, and when he
came back he studied law at Galatiu,
small town of 1000 population near
Nashville He was made prosecuting
attorney of the Nashville district, and
was acting rs such when the war broke
ont. lie went into the Confederate